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Patriots Come Back to Beat Jaguars 23-16

After falling behind early for the second straight week the Patriots (11-4) were able to climb back and avoid a meltdown to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars (2-13) 23-16.

Jacksonville jumped out to a 10-0 lead after Brady threw two first quarter interceptions and the New England secondary was picked apart on consecutive drives.

"We came out flat and I think it showed out there," Wes Welker said. "We've got to do a better job of starting fast and doing what we do to take control of the game."

Halfway through the second quarter Brady found his groove and the defense began to make some plays. Brady threw a 14 yard touchdown to Danny Woodhead, tying the game at the end of the half and then threw another two yard touchdown to Wes Welker to begin the fourth quarter and put the Patriots ahead 23-13.

Despite an offense that has been largely ineffective in 2012, Jacksonville brought the ball into New England territory three more times. Their first drive ended with a Josh Scobee 42 yard field goal to make it a one possession game with eight minutes to go. The Patriots offense failed on consecutive to replicate their performance in Miami when they ran the ball effectively and closed out a one score game with a long sustained drive. Jacksonville drove down the field and with 4:45 to go had 2nd and goal from the New England one. A sack and a penalty brought them back to the ten yard line, and on fourth down, Chandler Jones hit Chad Henne forcing an errant throw that found its way into the hands of Patrick Chung. Patrick Chung again intercepted Chad Henne on the final play of the game, after Jacksonville drove down the field to set up a first and ten from the New England 12 with eight seconds to go.

That is two straight lackluster performances for a team that is historically flawless in December.

The Boston Globe reported that "an Irate Brady could be heard upbraiding the team in the locker room following the game."

"We played terrible out there," said Brady after the game. "It came down to the wire and the defense mad some plays. But that was a bad 60 minutes of football. We got outcompeted out there, outfought. We were lucky to win."

The Patriots finish up the season against in Foxboro this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.